OREANDA-NEWS. The United States, Great Britain and Australia, against the background of China's increasing influence in the strategically important Indo-Pacific region, have created the triple alliance AUKUS. US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison presented the new block during a joint virtual presentation from Washington, London and Canberra on Wednesday evening, September 15.

Biden, without directly mentioning China, said that the goal of creating a new union is to ensure long-term peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. As part of the new pact, the United States will provide Australia with technology that will allow this country to create a nuclear submarine fleet.

At the same time, Washington stressed that Australia will not be provided with nuclear weapons, «We will continue to fulfill all our obligations in the field of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons», Australian Prime Minister Morrison assured for his part.

Nuclear submarines for Australia will be produced in the city of Adelaide in the south of the country. Scott Morrison said that the AUKUS countries will agree on the best ways to achieve this goal over the next year and a half.

In connection with the new plans, Australia has terminated a multi-billion dollar contract with France for the supply of submarines to Canberra. Under the terms of the deal, the French Naval Group was supposed to supply Australia with 12 submarines for a total amount of almost 56 billion euros. These submarines, however, are equipped with conventional, not nuclear engines.

Scott Morrison, in connection with the termination of the contract, said that this was caused by «changing challenges», and Joe Biden, for his part, assured France that it remains an important partner with whom Washington will continue to work closely in the future. The French government called Australia's decision regrettable, and Naval Group said it was disappointed.